Cottagers to complete summer coup.
Fulham have made their first signing of the summer already by landing Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Amorebieta, reports Daily Mail.
The 28-year-old centre back is out of contract with the Basque club this summer and has agreed a switch to Craven Cottage on a four year deal despite being tipped to join Arsenal or Liverpool instead.
The 6’4 stopper rejected a new five-year deal with a €2m signing on fee at San Mames and is also rumoured to have turned down advances from Everton and Zenit St Petersburg.
A Venezuelan international since 2011, he joined Bilbao in 2005 and has gone on to make over 250 appearances for the club and last season enjoyed moderate success as the club reached the finals of the Europa League and the Copa Del Rey.
However, he has seen him playing time limited this term since rejected the new and improved contract offer. It’s a similar fate that has ended Fernando Llorente’s career in Northern Spain as the highly rated striker is on his way to Juventus this summer, seeing his own influence diminish the season. Both players are leaving on free transfers and represent a huge loss to a club that operates on a ‘Basque only’ player policy.
Amorebieta will link up with Brede Hangeland next term who Fulham also came close to losing on a freebie, but they managed to secure his future last week.